The world's first Skin Cancer Index has been released...

Most people know that we have it extra bad here in Australia with one of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world, because of our proximity to the equator and our beautiful weather (yep, our clear blue-sky days are pretty but also perilous).

Now, a new study by Dema.plus called the Skin Cancer Index 2018 has put Australia at second in the world for susceptibility to skin cancer.

The study looks at the UV factor, the skin-tone by demographic percentages and rate of incidences to identify geographically where the highest rates of skin cancer are most likely to occur.

'Slip Slop Slap'1:00

The original 'Slip Slop Slap' TV commercial from 1980. Courtesy: The Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria

Sadly, the skin cancer mortality rate in less developed nations is up to five times higher than that in developed countries likes ours, meaning that our high GDP is a direct correlation of our success rate for treatment.

“Worldwide, more than 3-million non-melanoma skin cancers and 150,000 melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer,” states Prof. Dietrick Abeck, Chief Medical Advisor for Derma.plus.

“The incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has increased dramatically over the past decades.”

Skin cancer claims a life every 10 minutes, and this study aims to highlight the precautions that can be taken across the world to combat the disease.